I Think I'm Back!

Its hard to believe it has been seven weeks since I last posted. I left you all with the list of things I had to do to "fix" my back......well, so far I have not heard from the rehab clinic!! So I have muddled on with the things they had me do at home, which only exacerbated the situation. Finally I stopped and things went back to my "normal".

I talked to them this week and they assure me it is just a matter of getting me in their schedule, but I'm out of the notion, I think. If I can keep moving with gentle exercise, i.e. my stationary bike, following a walking tape, and swimming, I think that will be as helpful as anything I could do by driving an hour each way to the rehab place.

Sooooooo......let's change the subject. I think I am going to come back to blogging, but hopefully with shorter posts! (I'm not sure that I can tell what I have to say with fewer words!!)

Today is the last day of Spring Break here in Oregon. I have had grandson, Elliot, for part of the week, and then his parents came yesterday with Molly, and have done some exploring. Today they are in downtown Portland, riding our Max train and having a good time in "fare less" square. I fixed them a good lunch, so hopefully there will be a dry part in the day where they can enjoy the lunch on a park bench.

It has been good for me to plan for them. I did some cooking and baking ahead of time and put in the freezer, so meals have been easy, but delicious!! They are all good helpers, so kitchen clean-up is a breeze.

I'm enjoying the quiet day with their doggie, Sophie, a little black Yorkie. She loves her "grandma" and comes to find me from time to time. She always looks as if she is saying, "What doing, Gram?"

In the garage is a guinea pig that Molly brought home from school for the week!!

Tonight we are planning to rent Fireproof, the movie starring Kirk Cameron.

Until later.......

Farewell for now...

Its with a real sense of sadness that I say good bye to blogging on this blog for now, as other things in my life will be taking up my time in the months to come. I have loved your visits, your loving and encouraging comments, getting to "know" many of you and just the fun and challenge of thinking of things about which to post!

As many of you know, who have followed my blog, I suffer from chronic and, at times, acute, pain in my upper back of over thirty years duration. The acute phases are happening far more frequently and I'm sitting more and more. A terrible cycle has continued in my body over these many years, in my muscle skeletal system and the time has come (way over due) to start repairing the damage that has been done.

Yesterday I was evaluated at a very long session (six hours) at a Rehab Institute which has had great success with pain management. Long story short, my life style is going to change dramatically in the next few months.

I will be meeting at the rehab institute one day a week for several hours of therapy.

I have therapy to do at home with "rubber bands".

I must ride my recumbent bike daily.

I will be in a specialized aquatic program three days a week.

I must keep a food diary daily.

I must get to bed between eleven and twelve p.m., instead of between two and four a.m.

This is a drastic life style change for me. I am hoping that I will have time to still make cards! I am going to continue with my card blog, hopefully, for now.

If you ever think about it, I would so appreciate your prayers, as this is going to be one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. The consistancy is a necessity, which will be difficult for me. (I am making a spread sheet for some accountability)

I plan to keep up with your blogs, but will not be as faithful at leaving comments because of these new time constraints.

Good-bye for now.

Its been a great ride!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh, My Achin’ Back!

Having been plagued with upper back pain for the last thirty four years, and since I am just finishing up with a seven day acute phase, its on my mind....so bear with me!!

When it is acute, I suffer. When it is chronic, I am thrilled.

Much of the time I control the pain with a TENS unit which sends electrical shocks to four patches which I place on my back. This is supposed to “scramble” the pain messages to the brain. Well..................sometimes it doesn’t work. I pump it up to level ten, my back and shoulders jump in protest, but, alas, it doesn’t do its job.

This looks like my unit, only I use square patches. I own three of these machines, and sometimes wear two of them (8 patches) when my pain level is past bearable.

The acute phase is awful! I just hunker down in my “nest”, turn up the heating pad with a wet cloth on it,don’t move to avoid the spasms, knock myself out with muscle relaxants and pray for the pain to abate. (Pain meds do not work--doesn’t even phase nerve pain)


I become a little more intimately acquainted with my family room, every time I have a flare-up, My view from the “nest” follows................

 I wish I felt more like reading, better yet, using the cookbooks!

A nice fire would be nice........too much work

I watch too much television during these times--Fortunately a friend brought me the first series of Tale of Avonlea, which turned out to be a great bunch of simple little stories and helped pass the time.

Since 1988 I have been with a pain-management clinic and they have sent me to every kind of specialist, had many tests, x-rays, bone scans, mri’s, cat scans, you name it----I’ve had it.

I’ve had botox injections at the site, facet injections, trying to kill the nerves with radio waves, facet steroid injections, and a trial implant for a spinal cord stimulator. All have failed and I’m through exploring further avenues. Prior to this latest episode, I went six weeks relatively pain free, and had eleven days not wearing my TENS unit which is a record!

Today this latest acute phase is winding down and I am thrilled, looking forward to getting back into “action” and thankful it is a new week beginning. I am learning to “be thankful in all things”, to count my many blessings, and rejoice with pure joy on the days that are pain free.

This week, Lord willing,

Monday, I will have my weekly lunch date with sister, Carol
Tuesday, Bible Study and errands
Wednesday, care for two little boys to give their Mom a break
Thursday, lunch with my sibs and spouses, since brother, Bernie, is in town
Friday, to be announced

So, in the scheme of things, these flair-ups are just blips on the timeline of my life, but I do fret against them when they happen.

Sorry to be sharing my bad back woes, but it is such a big part of who I have become, and it is very much on my mind today and the last few days, so........

Tomorrow will be the beginning of many good days to come, I trust.